Lenovo ThinkPad T420 with UEFI Only

tluck · May 10, 2019

20 hours ago, free2000fly said:

hi @tluck I want to upgrade my T420 from 10.13.6 to 10.14.4

Which config.plist file is the best choise?

I just updated GitHub. well I would use config.mojave.1600x900.plist if I were you.

but I would go with 10.14.3 at first unless you have the 10.14.3 frameworks saved off.

kogam22 · May 17, 2019

@tluck

Hello there. I'm trying to update my bios from 1.3.1, but because I have a dead battery, it always stops at the battery check. Tried using Phoenix WinFlash's UEFI Utility but it fails too. Is there a way to update directly from bios ?

And also, I installed Mac OS 10.13.6 on T420s and the replaced the Clover folder from your GitHub repo, but the screen seems to be set to more than 1600x900 because the startup menu extends way right to the screen. I need to reduce it's dimensions to properly look at it. Like stretch and resize.

Though I was stopped before installation because it was said my hard drive has S.M.A.R.T problems and I need to backup data and get the it replaced.

Also I selected the ACPI folder for T420s and the normal empty config.plist without DSDT patching.

Also thanks a lot for your guide. Was useful.

Edited May 17, 2019 by kogam22
Thanks

tluck · May 17, 2019

2 hours ago, kogam22 said:

@tluck

Hello there. I'm trying to update my bios from 1.3.1, but because I have a dead battery, it always stops at the battery check. Tried using Phoenix WinFlash's UEFI Utility but it fails too. Is there a way to update directly from bios ?

And also, I installed Mac OS 10.13.6 on T420s and the replaced the Clover folder from your GitHub repo, but the screen seems to be set to more than 1600x900 because the startup menu extends way right to the screen. I need to reduce it's dimensions to properly look at it. Like stretch and resize.

Though I was stopped before installation because it was said my hard drive has S.M.A.R.T problems and I need to backup data and get the it replaced.

Also I selected the ACPI folder for T420s and the normal empty config.plist without DSDT patching.

Also thanks a lot for your guide. Was useful.

what if you remove the battery? maybe the bios update will succeed?

on screen size? I wonder if the size was not properly detected, set DualLink=1 (for 1600x900)

good luck on the HD replacement - go with SSD. APFS is not very speedy on spinning disk.

kogam22 · May 17, 2019

Quote

@tluck

what if you remove the battery? maybe the bios update will succeed?

Nope, doesn't work. Gives the same error for no battery and less battery percentage.

Actually, I don't have a dead battery - more like the indicator shows 0%. What happened was, Windows got really slow. So I performed a clean install and then some problems popped up like WiFi not working even with latest driver, battery indicator failure etc. Tried using Lenovo Software to download drivers, got the Synaptics drivers and some others. Idk why battery indicator doesn't work.

Quote

@tluck

set DualLink=1 (for 1600x900)

Will try for sure.

Quote

@tluck

APFS is not very speedy on spinning disk.

I was thinking of installing High Sierra first. There is a patch for the Mojave installer which skips the conversion of disk to APFS and installs on HFS/HFS+.

Also, how does the T420s(or other variant) fare with Mac OS ? Is it better than Windows ?

Edited May 17, 2019 by kogam22

tluck · May 17, 2019

2 hours ago, kogam22 said:

I was thinking of installing High Sierra first. There is a patch for the Mojave installer which skips the conversion of disk to APFS and installs on HFS/HFS+.

Also, how does the T420s(or other variant) fare with Mac OS ? Is it better than Windows ?

good idea ... get started with HighSierra. the support/implementation for Mojave is a bit more tricky.

Better? depends on your metrics. Many (100s or 1000s), as I have since 2013, run macOS on T420/T420s. Dual or triple boot is popular too: macOS, Windows, Linux.

goodguess · May 18, 2019

@kogam22 An old quarrel about the best OS.

I do by far prefer macOS on the T420, but have Windows 10 instances and Linux Mint as well.

Much depends on what you finally want to do with your laptop, surfing the net with some Chromium sibling is OK with all three.

When it comes to email, Mail is the best app I have ever seen. The other freebees from Apple are grown up too meanwhile.

Photos almost replaces Adobe Photoshop, Maps is almost better than its known competitor, Keynotes, Numbers and Pages are on par with the well known Office suite and there always is iMovie to create/edit movies. Again, all these are free from the Apple app store after creating an Apple ID.

If you should ever venture to look into retro Mac apps and games, macOS generally is the best host for Mac emulators.

http://macintoshgarden.org/

The reason is that even the latest APFS file system does preserve the resource forks of the vintage apps. No other OS I know of does that.

Therefore, you may inflate any 20 year old .SIT file with macOS, drop it into your shared folder and move it to the emulators system drive to run it.

Just my two € cents.

tluck · May 22, 2019

FWIW: I used this tool to go from 10.14.4 to 10.14.5.

http://dosdude1.com/mojave/

I created the USB installer (with my Clover bundle in ESP) and installed on top of 10.14.4.

and then ran the Post Install Tool set to MBP8,1 from this USB Installer.

Not entirely sure what all was changed - presumably it fixes the frameworks to allow HD 3000 to work!

goodguess · May 26, 2019

Great news!

So I´ll give the upgrade another go.

Could you eventually add the respective config.plist files for MBP 11,1 and MBP 9,1 to your Clover bundle (again) tluck?

I know that Clover can change the machine type at boot time, but thats not a permanent setting.

Clover Configurator does something too, but I rendered my setup unbootable several times that way.

tluck · May 26, 2019

4 hours ago, goodguess said:

Great news!

So I´ll give the upgrade another go.

Could you eventually add the respective config.plist files for MBP 11,1 and MBP 9,1 to your Clover bundle (again) tluck?

I know that Clover can change the machine type at boot time, but thats not a permanent setting.

Clover Configurator does something too, but I rendered my setup unbootable several times that way.

the dosdude1 tools and mods are designed to make a mbp8,1 work with Mojave. so you can just keep using the same config.plist. so use MBP8,1 in the post set up with this method.

but if you want to use it - the config.mojave*plist - are in the bundle and sets the model to mbp9,1. this worked well until the modifications for Mojave got a bit too complex (ie worked up to 10.14.3)

goodguess · May 26, 2019

Thanks so much tluck for pointing to dosdude1´s patcher again.

You are of course right to stick with the 8,1 config and to keep things simple.

The 14.5 installer did run through fine on my side and it looks like we may keep the T420 updated for a while longer.

Lets hope that dosdude1 will be in the position to continue that work.

With your Clover bundle and the Mojave patcher things are just perfect.

Edited May 29, 2019 by goodguess

goodguess · May 29, 2019

One little glitch occurs on my side.

I used to have two SSDs mounted in Finder, a smaller 120GB with Sierra and a 240GB SSD with Mojave.

Both devices use the lastest Clover package tluck kindly uploaded.

Both devices do boot their respective OS without issues.

The strange thing:

Until 10.14.3 the Sierra SSD was mounted without complains.

As of 10.14.5 Finder tells me the Sierra drive can not be mounted - HFS+ USB sticks are mounted just the same.

Anybody else with such strange behaviour?

laziboi · June 1, 2019

@tluck Hi there, I'm on Sierra and everything works fine now except my T420 reboot after shutting down.

I used default config.plist file on your package.

Please help

maple2018 · June 1, 2019

@tluck

Dear tluck, hello!
I recently worried about my T420. I successfully installed High Sierra 13.6 after using your Clover, but my computer temperature is too high.
Because my T420 replaced the i7 2630qm quad-core CPU a long time ago, its heat is too large.
But on the windows, I use TPFan Control, choose the 64th, can reach the fan speed of 6900 rpm. The 7th gear can also reach 4,500 rpm. This greatly relieves fever.
However, on the mac, I tried to use a few software and I can't change the fan speed. Even more surprising is that the fan actually runs at around 3800 rpm for a long time, which causes the computer to heat up more seriously, and the keyboard surface is also very hot!
I don't know how to solve this problem. I tried to modify dsdt.dsl with maciasl, but it didn't work. The fan speed is still very low.
I hope tluck can help me solve this problem, thank you!

193494449_QQ20190601181450.jpg.c1cdca94997459ed5b30bb04ef0a2160.jpg 756872974_QQ20190601181601.jpg.e13324e4f9653f3fbe9170dd04fbbf82.jpg

929221724_QQ20190601181650.jpg.802deb5b3032366ba2f59109402f22f2.jpg

In addition, my LCD model is LEN40A1，1600X900，it should be AUO, I found the EDID on windows is

00FFFFFFFFFFFF0030AEA14000000000
01140103801F1178EACCCE9958508E26
244B5300000001010101010101010101
010101010101F82A409A61840C30402A
330035AE10000018CF23409A61840C30
402A330035AE100000180000000F00A9
0932A9093219090006AF5631000000FE
004231343052573032205631200A007B

Edited June 1, 2019 by maple2018

tluck · June 1, 2019

@maple2018 included in the package, there is a dsdt and kext to help you with custom fan speed. replace your data.aml with dsdt.heat-step.aml (see details in the guide) and then add ACPIPoller.kext

@goodguess hmm no idea why your sierra volume isnt mounting. i have Mojave, HighSierra, Sierra on my T420.

@laziboi not sure what is going on... do you have any USB drives plugged in?

laziboi · June 2, 2019

@tluck No. My T420 turns off for 2-3 seconds then keeps rebooting.

Should I use 'fix shut down' from CCG?

Earthwalker · June 5, 2019

On 5/23/2019 at 2:21 AM, tluck said:

FWIW: I used this tool to go from 10.14.4 to 10.14.5.

http://dosdude1.com/mojave/

I created the USB installer (with my Clover bundle in ESP) and installed on top of 10.14.4.

and then ran the Post Install Tool set to MBP8,1 from this USB Installer.

Not entirely sure what all was changed - presumably it fixes the frameworks to allow HD 3000 to work!

@tluck Hi, I was using macOS 10.13.6 with ThinkPad W520, and moved to 10.14.4 using your T420 files and the Mojave Patcher Tool. Many thanks.

In 10.14.4, everything work as expect, except HiDPI. I got a 1920 x 1080 inside screen and HD 3000 graphic card, HiDPI in 1600 x 900 works, except if turn program to full screen, or watch a video in full screen, WindowServer will crash after exit full screen, and system will crash to login page. I try to use lower HiDPI resolution, such as 960 x 540, same problem. Connect a external screen using DisplayLink card via USB 3.0, windows in external screen works with full screen. HIDPI 1600 x 900 works perfect in macOS 10.13.6. Any idea how to config so HiDPI works in 10.14?

Bugfix · June 5, 2019

On 5/22/2019 at 3:21 PM, tluck said:

FWIW: I used this tool to go from 10.14.4 to 10.14.5.

http://dosdude1.com/mojave/

I created the USB installer (with my Clover bundle in ESP) and installed on top of 10.14.4.

and then ran the Post Install Tool set to MBP8,1 from this USB Installer.

Not entirely sure what all was changed - presumably it fixes the frameworks to allow HD 3000 to work!

I have a T420 (i5, 8GB RAM) with with an Intel 3000 (1600x900) running 10.14.5. I used the same tool get the HD 3000 to work.

The only issue here is the whole system freezes when I try o maximize a window. This also happens (less frequently) when using Quick Look, minimizing windows with the genie effect enabled and when the Safari download icon animation starts. When this happens I can still move the cursor, but nothing else responds.

These are last entries in the log right after the system freezes:

2019-06-05 13:21:01.926960-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics) stampWait: Overflowed checking for stamp 0x3414 on MAIN ring: called from (null)
2019-06-05 13:21:01.926977-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)  timestamp = 0x340e
2019-06-05 13:21:01.926986-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)  ****  Debug info for *possible* hang in MAIN graphics engine  ****
2019-06-05 13:21:01.927000-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)  ring head    = 0x02201550, wrap count = 17
2019-06-05 13:21:01.927010-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)  ring tail    = 0x00001bf0
2019-06-05 13:21:01.927025-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)  ring control = 0x0000f801   enabled, auto report disabled,  waiting, semaphore not waiting, length = 0x010 4KB pages
2019-06-05 13:21:01.927041-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)  timestamps = 0x340e
2019-06-05 13:21:01.927046-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)  Semaphore register values:
2019-06-05 13:21:01.927057-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)     VRSYNC: (0x12044) = 0x340e
2019-06-05 13:21:01.927067-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)     BRSYNC: (0x22040) = 0x0
2019-06-05 13:21:01.927083-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)     RVSYNC: (0x 2040) = 0x0
2019-06-05 13:21:01.927094-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)     BVSYNC: (0x22044) = 0x0
2019-06-05 13:21:01.927097-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)     RBSYNC: (0x 2044) = 0x0
2019-06-05 13:21:01.927100-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)     VBSYNC: (0x12040) = 0x0
2019-06-05 13:21:01.927102-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)  Looks like MAIN ring is stuck waiting on an event
2019-06-05 13:21:01.927106-0300 0x4c7      Default     0x0                  0      0    kernel: (AppleIntelHD3000Graphics)  After attempt to clear wait condition = 0x0000f001 no longer waiting

Is there any way fix for this?

goodguess · June 6, 2019

Did you install the updates of the (Mojave) Patch Updater as well?

There was a legacy GPU patch update just recently.

No issues on my side with switching apps full screen.

Bugfix · June 6, 2019

3 hours ago, goodguess said:

Did you install the updates of the (Mojave) Patch Updater as well?

There was a legacy GPU patch update just recently.

No issues on my side with switching apps full screen.

Yes. Got this update yesterday but it didn't help. Sometimes it freezes even when I'm dragging a window. I noticed that any complex animation has a chance of locking up the system.

I really have no idea of what might be causing these issues.

goodguess · June 7, 2019

Really strange, Bugfix.

I would run MEMTEST from a GNU/Linux Live DVD to check for faulty RAM.

(Knoppix is an option, if you don´t have Live DVD around. http://www.knopper.net/knoppix-mirrors/index-en.html )

Alternatively you could try swapping (upgrading) RAM, if you can find some cheap (8GB) bricks to hunt down the error.

Heat may be an issue too, if your CPU is throttled due to overheating?

tluck · June 7, 2019

@Bugfix you have hit the problem many (including me) have with HD 3000 on HighSierra (or Mojave)

- are you using the config.plist injects a custom EDID? if not try the the "2e2" version. fix will help a lot but not 100% on HighSierra/Mojave. always worked for earlier OS.

- the problem is more common on systems with AUO LCD and 4 or 8GB memory.

- not common for LG LCDs and/or with more memory.

check by running:

ioreg -l | grep yEDID

Edited June 7, 2019 by tluck

Bugfix · June 8, 2019

12 hours ago, goodguess said:

Really strange, Bugfix.

I would run MEMTEST from a GNU/Linux Live DVD to check for faulty RAM.

(Knoppix is an option, if you don´t have Live DVD around. http://www.knopper.net/knoppix-mirrors/index-en.html )

Alternatively you could try swapping (upgrading) RAM, if you can find some cheap (8GB) bricks to hunt down the error.

Heat may be an issue too, if your CPU is throttled due to overheating?

I left memtest running for about 6 hours and got no errors but noticed the CPU was getting REALLY hot (94ºc). I just replaced the old thermal paste and my temps now are stable at about 60ºc under load and about 40ºc idle.

Unfortunately the problem still persists. I also tried running with just one 4GB stick at a time, but nothing changed.

I also have Windows 10 and Fedora 30 running, both without issues. I'm not sure if this is a hardware issue.

6 hours ago, tluck said:
@Bugfix you have hit the problem many (including me) have with HD 3000 on HighSierra (or Mojave)

- are you using the config.plist injects a custom EDID? if not try the the "2e2" version. fix will help a lot but not 100% on HighSierra/Mojave. always worked for earlier OS.

- the problem is more common on systems with AUO LCD and 4 or 8GB memory.

- not common for LG LCDs and/or with more memory.

check by running:
ioreg -l | grep yEDID

I think I'm using the config.mojave.1600x900.plist.

Current EDID:

    | |   | | |       "IODisplayEDID" = <00ffffffffffff0006af3e210000000021140104901f11780261959c59528f2621505400000001010101010101010101010101010101f82a409a61840c30402a330035ae10000018a51c409a61840c30402a330035ae10000018000000fe0041554f0a202020202020202020000000fe004231343052573032205631200a00d0>

With the config.EDID-2e3.plist my screen gets all stretched but I just tested and it doesn't freeze! Do you know what causes this distortion?

System preferences says the resolution is correct (1600x900)

EDID when booting with config.EDID-2e3.plist:

    | |   | | |       "IODisplayEDID" = <00ffffffffffff0030e4e30200000000ff140104801f1178e23385995655912717505400000001010101010101010101010101010101ae24405a60841a303020350036ae1000001a401f408060841a303020350036ae10000018000000fe004c656e6f766f0a202020202020000000fe0031363030783930300a2020202000c6>

goodguess · June 8, 2019

I did not realise there are such severe differences with the 1600x900 displays.

My display ID is this:

"IODisplayEDID" = <00ffffffffffff0030e4e2020000000000140103801f11780a43459759578e28215054000000010101010101010101010101010101018025408060841a303020350036ae10000019000000000000000000000000000000000000000000fe004c4720446973706c61790a2020000000fe004c503134305744322d544c42310038>

HWInfo (Linux) finds this:

30: None 00.0: 10002 LCD Monitor
[Created at monitor.125]
Unique ID: rdCR.N0kCLdo1Fu5
Parent ID: _Znp.L_qGQ0CawLB
Hardware Class: monitor
Model: "LG Display LCD Monitor"
Vendor: LGD "LG Display"
Device: eisa 0x02e2
Resolution: 1600x900@60Hz
Size: 310x174 mm
Year of Manufacture: 2010
Week of Manufacture: 0

Running with 16GB on 14.5 there is one flickering black pixel line on white background only occasionally.

Guess I can call myself lucky.

Edited June 8, 2019 by goodguess

Bugfix · June 8, 2019

My display is the AUO one:

28: None 00.0: 10002 LCD Monitor
  [Created at monitor.125]
  Unique ID: rdCR.xTjZCjuW0P3
  Parent ID: _Znp.L_qGQ0CawLB
  Hardware Class: monitor
  Model: "AUO LCD Monitor"
  Vendor: AUO "AUO"
  Device: eisa 0x213e 
  Resolution: 1600x900@60Hz
  Size: 309x174 mm
  Year of Manufacture: 2010
  Week of Manufacture: 33
  Detailed Timings #0:
     Resolution: 1600x900
     Horizontal: 1600 1664 1706 2010 (+64 +106 +410) -hsync
       Vertical:  900  903  906  912 (+3 +6 +12) -vsync
    Frequencies: 73.33 MHz, 36.48 kHz, 40.00 Hz
  Year of Manufacture: 2010
  Week of Manufacture: 33
  Detailed Timings #1:
     Resolution: 1600x900
     Horizontal: 1600 1664 1706 2010 (+64 +106 +410) -hsync
       Vertical:  900  903  906  912 (+3 +6 +12) -vsync
    Frequencies: 110.00 MHz, 54.73 kHz, 60.01 Hz
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
  Attached to: #27 (VGA compatible controller)

tluck · June 9, 2019

10 hours ago, Bugfix said:

My display is the AUO one:


28: None 00.0: 10002 LCD Monitor
  [Created at monitor.125]
  Unique ID: rdCR.xTjZCjuW0P3
  Parent ID: _Znp.L_qGQ0CawLB
  Hardware Class: monitor
  Model: "AUO LCD Monitor"
  Vendor: AUO "AUO"
  Device: eisa 0x213e 
  Resolution: 1600x900@60Hz
  Size: 309x174 mm
  Year of Manufacture: 2010
  Week of Manufacture: 33
  Detailed Timings #0:
     Resolution: 1600x900
     Horizontal: 1600 1664 1706 2010 (+64 +106 +410) -hsync
       Vertical:  900  903  906  912 (+3 +6 +12) -vsync
    Frequencies: 73.33 MHz, 36.48 kHz, 40.00 Hz
  Year of Manufacture: 2010
  Week of Manufacture: 33
  Detailed Timings #1:
     Resolution: 1600x900
     Horizontal: 1600 1664 1706 2010 (+64 +106 +410) -hsync
       Vertical:  900  903  906  912 (+3 +6 +12) -vsync
    Frequencies: 110.00 MHz, 54.73 kHz, 60.01 Hz
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
  Attached to: #27 (VGA compatible controller)

yeah AUO1 LCD is inferior to LG. to fix the strecthing thing - make sure you have DualLink=1

Lenovo ThinkPad T420 with UEFI Only

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